Our hosts and hostesses were our class members supported by Bill & Anne Parke. Class members Cecilia Kendig, Rita Lamache, and Paula Finamore helped set up and decorated the hall. We had Teddy Bears and stuffed animals everywhere. Chip and Carol Parker were our greeters. Club members who helped were Wayne & Priscilla Griffin, Debbie Coit, and of course Bill and Anne Parke. Also for all those who stayed to help clean up after the dance, it is much appreciated.

On Saturday, February 9 at 8-10:30 PM, join us for our next BCS dance at the Infant Jesus Church, on Allds Street. This will be a mainstream dance with 2 Plus Tips, and the theme will be "Valentine Dance" with Patty Greene calling and Bev Boudreau cueing. Thank you to Kathi Butt and Harli Thoene for volunteering to be the hostesses. We have three clubs scheduled to raid or retrieve: Firesiders, Londonderry Apple Squares and Litchfield Swingers. Setup time will be at the usual 12:30 PM, Saturday February 9^th before the dance, for anyone who is willing to help.

Still looking for people to host our June dance!!! You even get to pick the dance theme if you sign up before the beginning of March.

On January 26, Class Chairman Bill Parke escorted Diane DesRochers, Paula Finamore and Cecelia Kendig to Weare for the Pine Tree Riot’s class dance. John and Valerie Lamb were also in attendance. Caller Don Frechette had a good time stretching the class call list with calls such as "Gentlemen in, ladies sashay."

Sunday January 27 was the date of the Heel and Toe Class Ball. Rita Lamarche and Chip and Carol Parker attended this dance, along with club president Chris Howard. This added a third banner to the class collection for January.

Our next Border City Squares CLASS dance will be on Saturday, March 9, again at Infant Jesus Church. The theme for this dance is "Lions and Lambs." As with the Pajama Party, the class will host this dance, so please see Bill or Anne to volunteer ideas and suggestions for food and decorations.

Our Fun Night on January 14 went well, and drew about 8 new people to try out square dancing. Though the class was cancelled due to snow on Jan. 21, many of the new dancers returned on Jan. 28. We are pleased to welcome new Phase 2 class members Bill & Mary Lenz, Mandy and Derek Eberle (Wolf Rockers), and Nancy Bryan (Heel and Toe). Joe McClintock, a former dancer, is joining the September class to refresh his skills, and possibly one other dancer, Melli Annamali, will be doing the same. We offer them a most sincere welcome, and hope they continue to come and have a great time dancing.

Monthly Dancing Tips

• Don’t dance every tip when others are sitting out. If there aren’t quite enough dancers to fill out a tip, make sure that all dancers are getting an opportunity.
• Be ready to begin dancing when the caller begins the first call. Don’t get so involved in socializing that you miss the first call or two.
• Make eye contact with the other dancers. Not doing so shows lack of interest in the people in your square.
• Always remember to thank the other dancers in your square and the caller before leaving the square. Take a minute to applaud everyone for a job well done.

January 12^th BCS Class Dance - The Wolf Rockers brought 15 dancers to raid our banner. Let's return the favor when we retrieve our banner at their February 23^rd Class dance. There were 42 BCS members present and 15 guests for a total of 72 dancers. Ed Renauld and Barbara Nutting wore their PJs as they lead the dancers in squares and rounds. If you didn't see Ed's 'sleeping cap', you can see it on our club's web site along with a few other pictures.

January 19^th Retrieval to Heel & Toe - It was a snowy night but 6 clubs were at the dance for banners. Callers Ray Hilton and 'Happy Harry Trott' brought some of their club members down from Biddeford ME and Tamworth NH to raid this dance. There were 9 squares on the floor for most tips with 14 squares in attendance. The theme was Tropical Getaway and we had to dance around some 'sand dunes' in the middle of the floor. Supporting our club were: Chris Howard, Cheryl Palucchi, Wayne, Priscilla & Elizabeth Griffin, Kathi Butt, Roberta Blais, Hal Kelley, Tammy Dorris, Harli Thoene, Mike Peterson, Bob Baker, and Cheryl Pecor.

January 26^th Retrieval to Tech Squares Plus level Dance - The last mile (of 46) was a mystery ride for some of us. The 'Big Dig' construction on Storrow Drive covered a sign that surprised us. We made the wrong turn but later recovered. One car didn't make the wrong turn but was then 'on their own'. Sorry Skip ;-). We all got to the dance in time. Thank you to our drivers: Chris, Skip, Lorri, and Wayne. There were 6 squares for most of the tips with 17 dancers from BCS: Chris Howard, Debbie Coit, Cheryl Palucchi, Penny & Skip Guild, Wayne & Priscilla Griffin, Roberta Blais, Hal Kelley, Preston Walsh, Lorri & Steve Wurtzler, Harli Thoene, Tammy Dorris, Jonas Green, Alice Renauld, Margery Shank, and Elizabeth Griffin.

February 1^st Raid to Litchfield Swingers - Dance canceled due to weather.

Saturday February 2^nd Raid to Apple Squares Plus level Dance - Among the 7 squares of dancers enjoying the calling of Jerry Maurice and cueing of Phil Gatchell were the following 13 members supporting our club: Chris Howard, Cheryl Palucchi, Wayne & Priscilla Griffin, Preston Walsh, Bill & Viv Thompson, Kathi Butt, Tammy Dorris, Jonas Green, Harli Thoene, Amy & Katherine Bollenbach. Jonas won a door prize and Preston won a Pot-of-Gold (and on his birthday too).

Upcoming Raid and Retrieval Dances (also see Class Report & Full Calender)

February 9^th BCS Mainstream with 2 Plus tips Dance - The Apple Squares will come to retrieve their banner. The Litchfield Swingers and the Firesiders are scheduled to raid our BCS banners.

February 23^rd Retrieval to Wolf Rockers Class Dance - The Wolf Rockers raided our banner at our January Class level dance and we plan to retrieve it at their Class level dance. Scheduling banner exchanges to class level dances allows us to be with our new dancers. No rounds at this dance.

March 1^st Retrieval to Litchfield Swingers Fun Badge Class Dance - This class dance will be held at the Mill-A Round Dance Center in Manchester. Besides being a Class dance, Majestic Badge will be there for those who wish to get fun badges/dangles for the special tips planned for the evening.

March 2^nd Retrieval to Firesiders Class Dance - The Firesiders are scheduled to raid our banner at our February 9^th dance and we are scheduled to retrieve it at their Class level dance. No rounds at this dance.

February to Early March Raids/Retrievals:

Club Banners We Have:                                             Clubs With Our Banners: